The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, has stated, at a press conference in La Moncloa together with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, that the Royal Decree-Law of Urgent and Extraordinary Measures approved yesterday by the Government to face the situations of vulnerability of the tenants is an economic and social shield that pretends that the COVID-19 crisis does not also cause a crisis in the rental market with an unaffordable social and economic cost.
The minister has gone on to list the achievements that in his opinion will be achieved with this decree, which are:
- Shield the right to housing. Preserve the disposable income of households, whether they are tenants or landlords, either by deferring the rent payments, resorting to microcredits or through the new rental aids of the State Housing Plan.
- Launch a security message in a context of uncertainty.
- Streamline the granting of aid, such as, for example, urgently transferring committed funds for this year to the autonomous communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, relaxing the conditions for their release.
Ábalos has expressed that a package of exceptional measures has been articulated for an extraordinary moment and has affirmed that the Government has anticipated the problems that may occur in the rental market through agile, viable and equitable solutions, which, instead of harming some to alleviate others, they help us all overcome this crisis together.
Approved measures
Among the measures approved in the Council of Ministers, the minister has mentioned that the paralysis of the launches of the people or families affected without a housing alternative is contemplated. Also, that, when the lessor is a small owner, the period of that suspension will be decided by a judge after a report from the social services.
In the case of individuals or families with rents that expire during this crisis, Ábalos explained that they extend for six months, under the same conditions, all contracts that expire up to two months after the end of the state of alarm.
The minister has emphasized the case of families in vulnerable situations that are tenants of properties owned by large homeowners (more than 10 properties) and / or public administrations, and has stated that the Royal Decree predisposes to a solution By mutual agreement for a reduction of the monthly payment or deferment of payment. In this way, a conciliation mechanism is articulated to manage a temporary situation of vulnerability.
The head of the Department has valued one of the most measures adopted in the Royal Decree, which refers to the opening of a line of guarantees, since it contemplates the three most important variables to take into account: tenants who are in a situation vulnerability and are in the position of having to change housing or be at risk of eviction; small landlords whose tenants cannot afford the payment and, therefore, are at risk of not receiving the agreed rent; and on the structure of a rental market in which the worst that can happen is that there is a contraction in supply.
Agreement with the ICO
In this sense, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma), the minister has stated that he will sign an agreement with the Official Credit Institute (ICO) so that families or people in vulnerable situations can benefit from bank loans, guaranteed by the State, to pay the rent on time.
In this regard, he explained that these loans will cover the total or partial payment of the rent for a period of up to six months, without any expenses or interests for the applicant, and may return it within a period of up to six years, extendable by others. four more. The specific aspects of this measure will be reflected in a Ministerial Order and through the agreement between Mitma and the ICO. It is, therefore, soft loans to save a crisis situation that, together, we will make it temporary.
Mitma performances
On the other hand, Ábalos has valued the actions carried out in recent weeks by Mitma and its entities and dependent companies. Among them, he highlighted that the Aena airport network has hosted 48 cargo ships destined for the transport of medical equipment, which have arrived at different airports: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Zaragoza, Vitoria, Palma de Mallorca , Seville, Tenerife South.
He also mentioned that Aena maintains airports with the necessary personnel for these critical flights, as well as supply freighters for the population, and those for emergencies, transplants and Security Forces and Bodies.
Reduction of Mobility
The minister has reported that the measures that have been adopted from his Department respond to a clear strategy of restricting mobility for the majority, with the possibility of displacement in the best conditions for those who have to continue moving.
The minister has affirmed that the mobility figures have become practically testimonial and that he is managing to reduce mobility even more, approaching the values for the weekend, which was the Government's objective.
Regarding the data, the minister has listed the most illustrative:
- Renfe's commercial services are being used by just over a thousand people, which is a very low figure and 60% lower than last week's data.
- And in the morning rush hour, users of Cercanías Madrid have also dropped by around 40% compared to the previous week.
- In the case of light vehicles, there is also a significant reduction, with 80% fewer vehicles, when on working days it was 70%.
Ábalos has highlighted that, in addition, his Department also works to guarantee and facilitate the transport of goods and the supply of citizens. And he recalled that measures are being continuously implemented to facilitate the work of both carriers and essential activity workers who are forced to move.
In this sense, he mentioned that today a public information point has been published in the Mitma website, where all those stations or areas of and restoration establishments will be located in the surroundings of the main highways and roads that provide restoration services for the support of professionals who need it.
